Identity Not Established

Overview

Hardship assistance is provided to meet the essential needs of family units who meet all conditions of eligibility for assistance except the requirement for sufficient identification. This category of hardship assistance is called Identity Not Established. It is intended to provide hardship assistance while the applicant or adult dependant is waiting for identification to be issued.

Hardship assistance under this category is provided on a temporary basis, for up to six months at a time. After the six-month period, the eligibility of a client for hardship assistance under this category must be reviewed monthly by supervisors.

Identity Not Established hardship assistance is available to applicants under the Employment and Assistance Regulation and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.

Hardship assistance under Identity Not Established is provided on a temporary basis, for up to six months at a time. After the six-month period, the eligibility of a client for hardship assistance under this category must be reviewed monthly by supervisors.

Clients who are eligible for hardship assistance under Identity Not Established may receive assistance via mail or direct deposit for up to six months. Staff should inform clients of the ministry’s policy regarding direct deposit. After receiving hardship assistance under this category for six months, assistance can only be issued via imprest cheque.

Frequently Asked Questions

QuestionWhat is the procedure when the hardship reason no longer exists?

AnswerOnce the hardship reason no longer exists, cases must be re-assessed to determine if the family unit meets the eligibility criteria for income assistance or disability assistance.

QuestionIf an applicant does not meet the two-year independence requirement and has no identification, is that applicant eligible to receive hardship assistance under Hardship – Identity Not established?

AnswerNo.

The regulation specifically states that where an applicant is ineligible for income assistance or disability assistance for more than one reason, hardship can only be provided if the regulation specifically authorizes hardship for each of the ineligibility reasons. Since there is no hardship category for not meeting the two-year financial eligibility requirement, the applicant is not eligible for hardship under – Identity Not Established.